Improvement in door-knobs



tl'ivrrnn STATES PATENT rrroa.

JOHN W. HAINES, OF CAMBRIDGE, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES S. GHAFFEE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DOOR-KNOBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,509, dated February 9, 1875; application filed January 5, 1875.

' reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in

which- Figures 1 and 2 are end elevations, and Fig. 3 a vertical section.

Like letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in the different figures of the drawing.

My invention relates more especially to that class of door-knobs which are composed, principally, of porcelain, glass, or some vitreous composition; and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter. more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more desirable article of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

It is well known that knobs constructed entirely of metal are susceptible of a higher degree of inexpensive ornamentation than those composed of glass or porcelain, the ornamental figures or designs being readily cast in re lief and integral with the knob.

Such knobs, however, are very expensive and otherwise objectionable, as the portion which is brought into contact with the hand in use is usually rough and unpleasant to the touch.

My improvement is designed to obviate these difficulties and objections, and, at the same time, render available all of the desirable ornamental portions of ordinary cast metallic knobs, and to, that end I make use of means which I will now proceed to describe.

In the drawing, A is the body of the knob, which may be composed of porcelain, glass, or any desirable vitreous compound, glass being preferable. The interior is hollow or provided with the cavity F, and a recess or in dentation, a a,is formed in the face or outer end, in which the metallic plate B is inserted, resting upon a ledge or annular projection, as shown. From the recess to the cavity F there is an opening, through which the curved wires cor lugs e 0 project, the wires being firmly attached to the inner side of the plate. A spindle socket or shank, H, provided with the usual flange or escutcheon m, has a roughened projection, G,'which extends into the cavity F opposite the plate B, through an aperture provided for that purpose.

The recess in the face of the knob is, preferably, made by molding, but may be cut or ground in, if preferred, and serves to shield or protect the hand from contact with the rough edges of the plate or medallion. In the construction of my improved knob Iunite the parts by filling the cavity F with properly-prepared plaster-of-paris, or a cement which readily hardens, into which the projection G and lugs e c are forced, and retained in the position shown in Fig. 3 in any convenient manner until the cement sets or hardens.

The plate B is designed to bear a number, as shown in Fig. 1; but, if preferred, it may be engraved with a name or an ornamental design. In preference to the plate B, I frequently employ an ornamental metallic inedallion or vignette, as shown in 2, the latter being provided with wires, like those shown in Fig. 3, and secured to the knob in the same manner.

No novelty, however, is claimed for the design, as it will be obvious that in place of the head shown in Fig. 2 a great variety of other objects or designs may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will also be obvious that in trimming a door the knob shown in Fig. 1 maybe properly employed for the'outside, and that shown in Fig.

,2 for the inside, although I claim, broadly,

this arrangement of the knobs, or the combination of a number-plate or medallion with a door-knob; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The improveddoor-knob described, the same consisting of the shank H, provided with the projection G, the plate B, or medallion D, pro vided with lugs e c, and the porcelain or vitreous body A, provided with the cavity F and recess a a, the whole being united by cement, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

J OHN W. HAINES. Witnesses:

O. A. SHAW, H. E. METCALF. 

